 The first chart is designed to give you an idea
about the progression of applications through the Social
Security Administration's (SSA) disability determination
process. It is not based on data gathered by tracking
individual cases through the process. Rather it is based
on aggregate data for all appeals in FY 2001 for Title
II (Disability Insurance), Title XVI (Supplemental Security
Income) and concurrent applications. Experience can
vary from year to year and by application type. Additionally
the numbers presented are rounded up. Note that approximately
forty percent of disability applications are approved
at the first level of the process. (Click
here for comparable aggregate data for FY 2002)
The larger chart on the next
page details the flow of an application through
the Social Security disability determination process
in fiscal year (FY) 2001. Taken from an applicant's
point of view, the chart shows the path of a disability
application from first contact with SSA through the
initial claim, appeals, and district court processes.
The chart presents a worst-case scenario because it
presumes the application was denied at each stage.
In reality, as seen in the first chart here, most
claims are allowed (57 of 100), and most allowances
are made at the initial level (40 out of 57 that are
allowed overall for every 100 cases). Only about 5
cases out of 100 go beyond the administrative hearings
level, and less than 1 per 100 enter Federal court.
 The rectangular blocks represent the tasks in the
initial determination and appeals processes. The color
of the blocks indicates the component responsible
for those tasks.
 SSA's field operations are shown in blue. Applicants
contact a Social Security teleservice center or field
office to begin the application process. A field office
employee interviews the applicant and assists in gathering
some of the information necessary to show that he
or she meets the requirements for disability benefits.
Employees in the field office also help applicants
file appeals. Following a favorable disability determination,
the field office completes work on the application
and initiates payment.
 The Disability Determination Services (DDS), are
shown in green. The DDS in the home state of the applicant
makes the initial disability determination. They secure
medical evidence from the applicant's treating and
other medical sources, and arrange for one or more
consultative examinations if there is not enough evidence
to make a decision. DDS employees gather information
from the applicant and other sources and evaluate
all the information to arrive at a disability determination.
The DDS is also responsible for making the disability
determination at the first appeal level—the reconsideration.
 The patterned green rectangles represent quality
review functions. SSA conducts reviews of some cases
for consistency and accuracy.
 Processing Centers are shown in purple. Some cases
are sent to a Processing Center for final payment.
 The beige rectangles represent Hearing Offices. The
Hearing Office processes the second appeal—the hearing.
The hearing is held by a Social Security Administrative
Law Judge (ALJ). Some cases are decided based on information
already in the file, but most are decided after a
hearing before an ALJ. Additional medical evidence
may be gathered and submitted by the appellant or
representative.
 The yellow rectangles represent the Appeals Council
(AC). The AC processes the third and final administrative
appeal—the Appeals Council Review. The Administrative
Appeals Judge (AAJ) conducts a procedural review of
the decision made by the ALJ. The AAJ does not conduct
another hearing.
 The gray boxes represent Federal District Courts.
The Office of Appellate Operations and the Office
of the General Counsel work together with a local
U.S. Attorney when an applicant files a complaint
in district court.
 The icons connected by dotted lines show
the employee position performing each type of action.
 The triangles indicate delays. Some of
these include mail time, medical provider response
time, and the sixty-day appeal time legally available
to the applicant at each step of the process.
 The calendar pages along the bottom show the approximate
number of days from the applicant's first contact
with SSA through the end of the process charted above
it. These are based on estimated average processing
time for the mainstream process. Therefore, individual
times may vary greatly.
 The information at the top of the chart indicates
the volume of cases that were considered and processed
in FY 2001.
Click here
to view the chart.
Note: This chart is for illustration purposes only and
is based on assumptions that may or may not be applicable in
any given case. In addition, the chart does not reflect recent
decisions made by the Commissioner of Social Security to
improve the administrative process. Therefore, the chart
should not be relied upon by a claimant to determine whether
to pursue his or her own claim.
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